Meet Moana Dixon of Huntedfox in Arts District DTLA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Moana Dixon.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Started H|F in 2015 as my “Plan B” when I was a VP os sales for a spirits company and our founder died. I had collected textiles from my travels with the intention of making things for my home- but my “job” didn’t leave me with a lot of room to take care of the life and home I was living.

With a desire to do refocus on what is important- I started sewing (a skill I harnessed thrifting and tailoring/making my own clothes in high school). I realized that I’m probably not the only person who has lost focus on how important our most important places are. They are where we celebrate- where we begin/end each day. It is the place we share our secrets- safest and worst moments.

With that in mind- I continued to source indigenous/vintage textiles made by tribal women (not 100% astringent on that- but it is my focus) and reimagine them into lifestyle pieces.

We started with pillows and now do TV show Sets (The Voice), Celeb homes/events, full branded build outs and custom furniture.

It’s been a journey, but this “Plan B” idea kinda turned into my ” A Game” and I don’t think I could ever go back to a corporate job no matter how hard the hustle might be…

The value I am able to bring to my clients keeps me grounded in what matters most: people and how we live.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ughhhhh. NO.

It’s been B R U T A L, G L O R I O U S, C R A Z Y M A K I N G, A M A Z I N G, T E R R I F Y I N G, E D I F Y I N G.

It’s pushed me to the edge of my river and been my river of life all at the same time.

I have 100% self-funded my company and not utilized credit, loans or investors to build the brand to where it is today. I’ve done every webinar/seminar/tutorial on algorithms/keywords/hashtags until I cannot see straight and it still is never enough. I have taken almost EVERY photo of every product, touched every single piece with my own hands. Which means it’s sucked- A LOT. Until it hasn’t sucked (as much).

Without question: a start up in LA is not for the weak.

I’ve made so many mistakes- and it’s been humiliating and humbling.
We grew too fast/I held back.
We’ve duct taped pennies together to make payroll/didn’t know which bill to pay first with the huge celeb jobs.
The Millennial employee crisis is REAL.
Created too early/created too late.

…it’s just been a lot.

We may not make it-most companies don’t…

I’ll have to be okay which ever way it shapes out-but at least I know I’ve given it EVERYTHING I’ve got and held nothing back.

In that way – if I’ve exhausted this part of my potential I’ll be satisfied that I showed up 1,000%. So yeah – the struggle is real..

Please tell us about Huntedfox.
We are a custom design house.

We focus on handmade custom pieces/runs

Custom pillow fills/zippers/production all done in LA.

We focus on the squishy/delicious parts.

Leather headboards, custom seating, banquettes, pillows, ottomans, poufs, benches, bedding…

Anything that your body wants to fall into – we do that.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
A million things.

Most importantly – we blew up so fast and I got scared.

I would have trusted the alignment more than the hustle and quit my job ASAP instead of hanging on for 2.5 years like a madwoman on the edge.

I think that’s the hardest part about these kinds of questions. I WISH I could go back and fix that. I can’t. It’s been a series of small heartbreaks and huge wins. It’s without doubt the wildest roller coaster I’ve been on.

Contact Info:

• Address: 688 S. Santa Fe Ave
  studio #306
• Email: info@huntedfox.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehuntedfox/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehuntedfox

Image Credit:
Gina Rodrigues – I took and she bought that pice and a few others.

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